Last night’s training at Moss Side Leisure centre proved to be much more exciting than usual. During this class we were practising and learning controls and stick defences. Initially the class paired up and performed a drill as instructed by myself, whereby each pair grabbed one escrima stick. The objective was to get the stick off your partner by manipulating the stick. One particular pair found themselves interlocked in a powerful battle. One of the students in question is built like a tank; his partner was new to the class and of medium build. He also proved to possess great strength. I was monitoring all of the class and glanced over at the aforementioned pair. They were interlocked in fierce battle with each trying to retrieve the stick off the other. Then a momentary lapse in time seemed to take place, time seemed to slow down. To my amazement I saw the stick bending almost to 45 degrees. I stood there in awe at the sight when a loud SNAP was emitted across the training room. All of the class stopped the drill and looked towards the source of the sound. To everyone’s amazement the escrima stick had snapped. Everyone started laughing when I picked up the stick looking perplexed and astounded and exclaimed WOW!!!!!!!!!

We teach a hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel which involves wrestling, grappling and striking techniques, it is taught to elite Special Forces around the world. However, our system is a fun and easy to learn self defence system that can build fitness and confidence in anyone from 18 to 80. In what seems to be an increasingly dangerous world, everyone can benefit from learning some basic self-defence skills.

Residents in Salford and workers in and close to Media City will be glad to know that classes take place every Monday from 7.30 to 8.30pm at Fit City Salford.